{"id":63072,"date":"2022-03-02T20:39:44","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T00:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?p=63072"},"modified":"2022-03-07T17:16:44","modified_gmt":"2022-03-07T21:16:44","slug":"pearce-pablum-69-straw-man-mythical-nativity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/03\/pearce-pablum-69-straw-man-mythical-nativity.html","title":{"rendered":"Pearce Pablum #69: Straw-Man, Mythical “Nativity”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Atheist anti-theist and \u201cphilosopher\u201d\u00a0Jonathan M. S. Pearce<\/strong>\u00a0runs the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0He has encouraged me to visit his site and offer critiques, and wrote under\u00a0a post dated 12-14-21<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cI even need to thank the naysayers. Some of them have put up with a lot of robust pushback and still they come. Bravery or stupidity \u2013 it\u2019s a fine line. But they are committed, and there is something to be said for taking that commitment into the lion\u2019s den. Dave, you are welcome at my new place. Come challenge me. . . . thanks for your critiques of my pieces. Sorry I couldn\u2019t get to more of them.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0This echoes his words about me in a\u00a0post dated 7-20-17<\/a>, where he said,\u00a0\u201cwell done . . . for coming here and suffering the slings and arrows of atheists\u2019 wrath. . . . I commend him for getting involved and defending himself. Goodonya, mate.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Under a post dated 1-27-22<\/a>, he stated: \u201cI do welcome disagreements because I don\u2019t want [my blog] to [be] just an echo chamber. . . . [S]omeone like Armstrong does give me ammunition for some of my pieces!\u201d<\/span> Likewise, on 3-18-14<\/a> he proclaimed: \u201cDissenting views are utterly vital to being sure that you are warranted in your own beliefs and views.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0And\u00a0on 7-20-17<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cI put my ideas and theories about the world out there for people to criticise. . . . I want to make damned sure that they are warranted. I can\u2019t stand the idea that I could . . . believe something that is properly unwarranted. . . . What\u2019s the point in self-delusion? . . . I put something out there, people attack it, and if it still stands, it\u2019s pretty robust and I am happy to hold it. If not, I adapt and change my views accordingly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m delighted to oblige his wish to receive critiques and dissenting views! The rarity of his\u00a0counter<\/em>-replies, however, is an oddity and curiosity in light of this desire. He wrote, for example, on 11-22-19<\/a>: \u201c[I can\u2019t be]\u00a0someone who genuinely is not interested in finding out the truth about philosophy, God and everything.\u00a0If I come up against\u00a0any\u00a0<\/em>point that is even remotely problematic to my worldview, I feel the absolute necessity to bottom it out. I need to reconcile at least something; I have work to do. I cannot simply leave it as it is. . . . I would simply have\u00a0<\/em>to counter the arguments, or change my position.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Whatever; this hasn\u2019t been my<\/em> experience with him; only in short and infrequent spurts. I continue to offer them in any event, because they aren\u2019t just for\u00a0his<\/em>\u00a0sake.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what he thinks (by the way) of Jesus:\u00a0\u201cThe Jesus as reported in the Gospels is so far removed from the real and historical figure of Jesus, overlaid with myth, story-telling, propaganda and evangelist agenda, that the end result is synonymous with myth. . . . I\u2019d take mythicism over Christianity any day. And they call mythicists fringe as if the position is absurd? Now\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>crazy.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0(8-2-14<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Jonathan\u2019s words will be in\u00a0blue<\/span>.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

This is a reply to Jonathan\u2019s article,\u00a0Summing up the Nativity as Concisely as Possible.<\/a> (12-2-16). His article was very short, since it was intended by our congenial atheist critic as merely a mocking, condescending summary-dismissal of the entire story of the Nativity: meant to elicit laughs and derision rather than thought and a deeper understanding. In fact, it is a handy summary of numerous whoppers, errors, and falsehoods that atheists (including Jonathan) have dreamt-up and fantasized, concerning Jesus\u2019 birth and the events surrounding it.<\/p>\n

He makes many statements about what the Bible supposedly teaches that simply aren\u2019t true. And so his hit-piece with my refutation below becomes quite long, because so many falsehoods have to be corrected. It\u2019s very tedious work, but someone<\/em> has to do it.<\/p>\n

My interjecting comments will be bracketed and in regular black color. Almost of this was satisfactorily answered in sufficient depth (if I do say so) in an article of mine from just two days ago, as I write: Bethlehem Joseph \/ Census Issues<\/a> (2-28-22): where readers can go to see the reasoning behind my assertions below. But if mockery of this sort is considered useful and effective by atheists, then I say that refutations of them are equally if not more<\/em> useful to Christians. And so I proceed . . .<\/p>\n

Joseph ended up taking his 9 month pregnant partner<\/span> [the biblical text never asserts<\/em> that she was nine months\u2019 pregnant on this journey. All we know is that she \u201cwas with child\u201d: Lk 2:5 (RSV). Nor does the text indicate exactly when<\/em> she delivered the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. All we know from it is that it happened \u201cwhile they were there\u201d: Lk 2:6] (impregnated without anyone\u2019s permission)<\/span> [that\u2019s not true. Does Jonathan never tire of ignorant whoppers? An angel tells Mary that she will become pregnant by the Holy Spirit\u2019s power: Lk 1:26-37. But this is not without Mary\u2019s permission and consent<\/em>: what is called her \u201cfiat.\u201d God, being omniscient, knew how she would responded: which was with the full consent of her will, saying, \u201cI am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word\u201d: Lk 1:38] on an 80 mile journey on donkey-back on unmettaled roads<\/span> [since it\u2019s not established that she was nine months\u2019 pregnant, this is uncontroversial and humdrum. First-century Jews traveled to Jerusalem \u2014 just as far from Nazareth \u2014 several times each year to attend feasts] to a census that, as a woman, his wife did not need to attend<\/span> [it\u2019s true that she didn\u2019t have to register there<\/em>, but irrelevant. She was going with Joseph as his betrothed, to get married in Bethlehem], in a different tax area to where they lived<\/span> [the New Testament never claims<\/em> that Joseph was from, or resided in Nazareth. It does<\/em> say that he was going to be \u201cenrolled\u201d in \u201chis own city\u201d: Lk 2:3], for the purpose of a ruler (Herod) who had died 10 years previously<\/span> [this occurred in 2 BC when Herod was still alive (arguably<\/em>, and there are solid historical \/ archaeological arguments for this), but it had nothing to do with him<\/em> (accordingly, the text never said that it did<\/em>). Rather, it was a commendation of Caesar Augustus \u2014 by his decree (Lk 2:1) from all those under the jurisdiction in the Roman Empire: as Josephus noted] (and who, as ruler of a client kingdom, would not have needed a Roman tax census)<\/span> [this event was not necessarily a census (RSV calls it an \u201cenrollment\u201d, not a \u201ccensus\u201d), and the text doesn\u2019t say it was about taxation<\/em>, either.] in a place where one Gospel (but not the other) said they already lived<\/span> [Matthew indicates that Joseph lived there; Luke is neutral, so there is no trumped-up supposed \u201ccontradiction\u201d: as usual], only to be chased to Egypt for two years<\/span> [the text says nothing about two years, but that it was \u201cuntil the death of Herod\u201d: Mt 2:15] when the other Gospel said they returned to Nazareth immediately<\/span> [it gives no indication of the precise time: Luke 2:39], because said dead ruler<\/span> [who wasn\u2019t dead] was intent on killing Jesus-aged babies<\/span> [sounds like a pretty good reason<\/em> to escape to somewhere else, doesn\u2019t it?!] (which was never recorded in any other place)<\/span> [why does it have<\/em> to be? There is no requirement<\/em> that anything recorded as historical fact must<\/em> be recorded by at least two people] due to an important prophecy that nobody had realised actually existed.<\/span> [Jonathan assumes<\/em> \u2014 one of his many mindless \u201cuniversal negative\u201d claims \u2014 that no one knew about it. The Jews were quite well-acquainted with their own prophecies, thank you].<\/p>\n

Oh, and the Magi and shepherds, who saw the most incredible things, were never heard from again.<\/span> [why do they have<\/em> to be \u201cheard from again\u201d<\/span>?! They came from a far land and they went back. The Gospels recorded what happened in Israel, in the first third of the first century AD. They\u2019re very localized. What is it with these arbitrary requirements: cynically trotted out for the Bible but nothing else<\/em>?]<\/p>\n

Orrrrrrrrrrr\u2026 it never happened. (Just a thought.)<\/span> [or it did<\/em> and Jonathan disbelieves it on inadequate \/ straw man grounds: just as we see here that every single assertion he makes is either factually wrong or irrelevant. Just a thought . . . ]<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Practical Matters<\/em><\/strong>: Perhaps some of my 4,000+ free online articles (the most comprehensive \u201cone-stop\u201d Catholic apologetics site) or\u00a0fifty books<\/a>\u00a0have helped you (by God\u2019s grace) to decide to\u00a0become Catholic<\/a>\u00a0or to\u00a0return to the Church<\/a>, or better understand some doctrines and\u00a0why<\/em>\u00a0we believe them<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. I\u2019m always in need of more funds: especially\u00a0monthly<\/em>\u00a0support. \u201cThe laborer is worthy of his wages\u201d (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a\u00a0full-time Catholic apologist<\/a>, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog.<\/p>\n

PayPal donations<\/a>\u00a0are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. You\u2019ll see the term \u201cCatholic Used Book Service\u201d, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing, including 100% tax deduction, etc., see my page:\u00a0About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong \/ Donation Information<\/a>.\u00a0Thanks a million<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0from the bottom of my heart!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Photo credit: <\/strong>Nativity<\/em>\u00a0(1523), by Lorenzo Lotto (1480-1556)<\/span>\u00a0[public domain \/\u00a0Wikimedia Commons<\/a>]<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Summary<\/em>: Atheist anti-theist Jonathan MS Pearce sums up the Nativity story in a mocking fashion, but is shown to be wrong or irrelevant at every turn in his assertions.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Atheist anti-theist and \u201cphilosopher\u201d\u00a0Jonathan M. S. Pearce\u00a0runs the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher.\u00a0He has encouraged me to visit his site and offer critiques, and wrote under\u00a0a post dated 12-14-21:\u00a0\u201cI even need to thank the naysayers. Some of them have put up with a lot of robust pushback and still they come. Bravery or stupidity \u2013 it\u2019s a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2331,"featured_media":63074,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[124,1005],"tags":[4121,2519,453,15807,524,15777,4132,4107,15798,15804,15780,1008,2707,15792,15795,15801],"class_list":["post-63072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-atheism-agnosticism","category-christmas","tag-a-tippling-philosopher","tag-alleged-biblical-contradictions","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-joseph-census-issues","tag-bible-difficulties","tag-census","tag-herod-the-great","tag-jonathan-ms-pearce","tag-josephs-hometown","tag-josephs-hometown-of-bethlehem","tag-luke-2-the-roman-census","tag-nativity","tag-nazareth","tag-nazareth-joseph","tag-nazareth-mary","tag-no-room-at-the-inn"],"yoast_head":"\nPearce Pablum #69: Straw-Man, Mythical "Nativity" Pearce Pablum #69: Straw-Man, Mythical "Nativity"<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Atheist anti-theist and \u201cphilosopher\u201d\u00a0Jonathan M. 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Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \\\"This Rock\\\" (now called \\\"Catholic Answers Magazine\\\"), \\\"Envoy Magazine\\\" (Patrick Madrid), \\\"The Catholic Answer,\\\" \\\"The Coming Home Journal,\\\" \\\"Gilbert Magazine\\\" (American Chesterton Society), and \\\"The Latin Mass.\\\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \\\"The Michigan Catholic\\\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \\\"Catholic Answers Live\\\" (twice), \\\"Faith and Family Live\\\" (Steve Wood), \\\"Kresta in the Afternoon,\\\" \\\"Son Rise Morning Show,\\\" \\\"Catholic Connection\\\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \\\"The Catholics Next Door.\\\" His large and popular website, \\\"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\\\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \\\"Envoy Magazine.\\\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \\\"index\\\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \\\"Surprised by Truth\\\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \\\"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\\\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \\\"The Catholic Verses\\\" (2004), \\\"The One-Minute Apologist\\\" (2007), \\\"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\\\" (2009), \\\"The Quotable Newman\\\" (editor: 2012), and \\\"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\\\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \\\"The New Catholic Answer Bible\\\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \\\"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\\\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \\\"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\\\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \\\"Quotable Wesley\\\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/\",\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Pearce Pablum #69: Straw-Man, Mythical \"Nativity\" Pearce Pablum #69: Straw-Man, Mythical \"Nativity\"","description":"Atheist anti-theist and \u201cphilosopher\u201d\u00a0Jonathan M. S. 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Pearce\u00a0runs the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher.\u00a0He has encouraged me to visit his site and offer Atheist anti-theist Jonathan MS Pearce sums up the Nativity story in a mocking fashion, but is shown to be wrong or irrelevant at every turn in his assertions.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/03\/pearce-pablum-69-straw-man-mythical-nativity.html","og_site_name":"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","article_published_time":"2022-03-03T00:39:44+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-03-07T21:16:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":589,"height":768,"url":"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/572\/2022\/03\/Mary21.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dave Armstrong","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dave Armstrong","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/03\/pearce-pablum-69-straw-man-mythical-nativity.html","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/03\/pearce-pablum-69-straw-man-mythical-nativity.html","name":"Pearce Pablum #69: Straw-Man, Mythical \"Nativity\" Pearce Pablum #69: Straw-Man, Mythical \"Nativity\"","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website"},"datePublished":"2022-03-03T00:39:44+00:00","dateModified":"2022-03-07T21:16:44+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e"},"description":"Atheist anti-theist and \u201cphilosopher\u201d\u00a0Jonathan M. 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Pearce\u00a0runs the blog,\u00a0A Tippling Philosopher.\u00a0He has encouraged me to visit his site and offer Atheist anti-theist Jonathan MS Pearce sums up the Nativity story in a mocking fashion, but is shown to be wrong or irrelevant at every turn in his assertions.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/03\/pearce-pablum-69-straw-man-mythical-nativity.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/03\/pearce-pablum-69-straw-man-mythical-nativity.html"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/2022\/03\/pearce-pablum-69-straw-man-mythical-nativity.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Pearce Pablum #69: Straw-Man, Mythical “Nativity”"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/","name":"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism","description":"Catholic biblical apologetics","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/471eaa20e441eca4bb1ea50393cf632e","name":"Dave Armstrong","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/820e6db89734ae7a9e5dac8d498f5ac7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Dave Armstrong"},"description":"Dave Armstrong is a Catholic author and apologist, who has been actively proclaiming and defending Christianity since 1981, and Catholicism in particular since 1991 (full-time since December 2001). Formerly a campus missionary, as a Protestant, Dave was received into the Catholic Church in February 1991, by the late, well-known catechist and theologian, Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave\u2019s articles have appeared in many influential Catholic periodicals, including \"This Rock\" (now called \"Catholic Answers Magazine\"), \"Envoy Magazine\" (Patrick Madrid), \"The Catholic Answer,\" \"The Coming Home Journal,\" \"Gilbert Magazine\" (American Chesterton Society), and \"The Latin Mass.\" He also writes a featured column for every issue of \"The Michigan Catholic\": published by the archdiocese of Detroit, and was editor for most of the apologetics tracts published by the St. Paul Street Evangelization apostolate. Dave\u2019s apologetics and writing apostolate was the subject of a feature article in the May 2002 issue of \"Envoy Magazine.\" He served as the staff moderator at the Internet discussion forum for The Coming Home Network, from 2007-2010. Dave has been interviewed on many nationally syndicated Catholic radio shows, including \"Catholic Answers Live\" (twice), \"Faith and Family Live\" (Steve Wood), \"Kresta in the Afternoon,\" \"Son Rise Morning Show,\" \"Catholic Connection\" (Teresa Tomeo), and \"The Catholics Next Door.\" His large and popular website, \"Biblical Evidence for Catholicism,\" was online from March 1997 to March 2007, and received the 1998 Catholic Website of the Year award from \"Envoy Magazine.\" His blog of the same name (now transferred to Patheos), begun in February 2004, contains more than 1,500 papers, at least 500 debates or dialogues, and over 50 distinct \"index\" web pages. Unsolicited correspondence has indicated many hundreds of conversions (or returns) to the Catholic faith as a result, by God's grace, of these writings. Dave's conversion story was published in the bestselling book \"Surprised by Truth\" (edited by Patrick Madrid; San Diego: Basilica Press, 1994). Sophia Institute Press has published six of his books: \"A Biblical Defense of Catholicism\" (Foreword by Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J., 1996 \/ 2003), \"The Catholic Verses\" (2004), \"The One-Minute Apologist\" (2007), \"Bible Proofs for Catholic Truths\" (2009), \"The Quotable Newman\" (editor: 2012), and \"Proving the Catholic Faith is Biblical\" (2015). He is co-author (with Dr. Paul Thigpen) of the inserts for \"The New Catholic Answer Bible\" (Our Sunday Visitor: 2005), and editor for \"The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton: The Very Best Quotes, Quips, and Cracks from the Pen of G. K. Chesterton\" (Saint Benedict Press \/ TAN Books: 2009). \"100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura\" was published by Catholic Answers in May 2012. His \"Quotable Wesley\" compilation was published by (Protestant \/ Wesleyan publisher) Beacon Hill Press in April 2014. Several of his 49 books are bestsellers in their field. Dave maintains a popular personal Facebook page, a Facebook author page, and has a Twitter account as well. He offers almost all of his books in e-book form on his own Biblical Catholicism site (http:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/), at a permanent deep discount: only $2.99 for ePub, mobi, and AZW, and $1.99 for PDF. His writing has been enthusiastically endorsed or recommended by many leading Catholic apologists, authors, and priests, including Dr. Scott Hahn, Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas, Marcus Grodi, Patrick Madrid, Steve Ray, Tim Staples, Devin Rose, Mike Aquilina, Al Kresta, Karl Keating, Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Brandon Vogt, Marcellino D'Ambrosio, and Fr. John A. Hardon, S. J. Dave has been happily married to his wife Judy since October 1984. They have three sons and a daughter, and reside in southeast Michigan (metro Detroit).","sameAs":["https:\/\/biblicalcatholicism.com\/","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dave.armstrong.798","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@LuxVeritatisApologetics"],"url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/author\/davearmstrong"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63072","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63072"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63072\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davearmstrong\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}